After getting to chapter 40, I still didn't understand exactly what to make off Utena's pointless crusade for powering up her idols. While it is an intriguing premise and a kinda wholesome study on teenager's masosadism (I refuse to call it BDSM for the lack of consent, which makes matter a lot harder to really believe), it meanders on the action-packed stuff way too much, installing a rather obvious battle-slice-battle formula that erodes any kind of real attachment for the girls themselves, outside of oneliners.

The stakes get so ridiculously high it all feels like a very accidental highrolling sexual accelerationism - where everyone will die out of black slime and lube asphyxiation -, which I'm definitely aware that's not what this is going for, necessarily. There's charm with Utena's antics though. She´s an interesting case of personality resonance, since everyone has deep erotic desires they want to fulfill but the way things work on reality don't let us with all concepts of shame and self loathing -especially teens-.

To me, powerlevels get so ridiculous though that I full went no brain mode as the second wave of magical girls were revealed and lost interest very quickly. Narratively maybe has a lot going for itself, but as the chapters went by, I seriously believe its point is already cooked and served: be in peace with who you are on the horny jail and maybe you'll find your significant others in the process. Be yourself, be free.

I really enjoyed this manga. Watched the anime first and honestly, while both are almost identical, the anime is better, the voice acting is spot on and the erotic scenes are a bit more explicit and longer.

Anyway, this is a pretty comedy focused manga with a lot of cute girls and tons of illogical parts to add to the fun. I only wish the protagonist was a bit more confident and a bit more evil (in a teasing sort of way, not that she wants to kill or anything) and more sadistic/dominating, then it'd be perfect. As of now, her personality feels lacking except for when she truly goes crazy. Still, she does develop over the course of the story and indeed gets a bit more confident, maybe she'll improve a bit more later.

"Looking up to Magical Girls" is a unique and intense entry into the Magical Girl genre. It starts out with a girl who loves magical girls, which are real in this world. When she finally meets a mascot character, she transforms... into a villain. She has a lot of evil energy and likes that make her a villain - of course she is upset at this, but soon notices that this allows her to tap into desires she never explored before: she is a sadist. And Magical Girls are perfect "pure" characters to tease and mistreat.

From this point onwards, the plot will go off the rails and not slow down. As the urge to abuse of the MC VIllain gets stronger, so do the Magical Girls get stronger to fight back, new villains join, and even bigger forces get involved. The manga makes overt references to Kill la Kill, with an evil group of Four Stars, and a star-based ranking system for the girls, in the signature TRIGGER artstyle. The henshins get more intense, new forms get introduced with hype story beats, and girls will go absolutely apeshitt.

I will say however, that the fanservice and sexualised abuse of middle schoolers towards other middle schoolers can be quite intense and will definitely be too much for many. I can very much respect that decision if you want to drop it. For myself, it fits into the theme of sexual awakening for the characters, some as sadists, some as masochists, and others to challenge their own perception of rightness and purity enforced by society. New feelings make new henshins. It fits, it sits.

This whole mix ends up as a glorious and hyperdrive edgefest, but one that has a lot of heart and love for its own genre, with some thematic nuggets that are worth exploring. And any Magical Girl show that gives a someone full on MAXIMUM SYMPHOGEAR PUNCH FISTS is a good series in my eyes.

For everyone, proceed with caution, and if you like it, go all out and enjoy the ride!